The Custer County Need

Custer County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) was concerned about the future employment opportunities and economic viability of Custer County. As a small, rural county (population of 4,445 over 740 square miles) with an aging population in natural population decline, Custer County, Colorado, needs net inward migration to avoid social and economic decline. Even with significant annual inward migration (i.e. 3.6% per annum) the county will remain relatively small and rural.

Despite Custer County’s many assets as a place to live, without world class digital infrastructure attracting businesses and population into the county from urban centers will be a major challenge. In order to maintain and grow the local economy in a managed way, Custer County must leverage its assets and opportunities to attract key demographic groups, especially younger, mobile professionals and affluent retirees or those close to retirement (already a significant demographic for Custer County).

The forward-thinking leaders at the CCEDC recognized that without full coverage of broadband the county will struggle for survival and they had already established a plan to build capacity on six wireless towers throughout the county to provide coverage to 80% of locations and improve service to the 40% already covered. The challenge was to secure the required funding to implement the plan.

What SNG provided

The CCEDC contacted SNG to conduct a broadband impact assessment of Custer County. The scope of SNG’s work was expanded to collect data on expected job impacts if Custer County were to receive an additional $1 million in Federal Economic Development Administration funding for the six new wireless towers that would increase the broadband service footprint to nearly 80% of county addresses. The project scope was expanded for SNG to include collection of market assessment data based on the commitment and support of CCEDC.

SNG worked with CCEDC between March and June 2018 to gather input locally on how local businesses, organizations, and households are connecting, using, and benefiting from the internet. The survey campaign was promoted as – “We asked and we listened”.

In April and May of 2018, 742 households and 709 organizations were emailed. Responses from 164 households and 80 organizations were received, which represents approximately 8.5% of Custer households and 10% of Custer businesses. Those results are compared to the SNG Digital Economy Database (DED) for rural areas, representing 10,600 households and 5,900 organizations.

As a result of SNG’s research, analysis, and report the CCEDC obtained the endorsement of their funding request from the Governor of Colorado and met the Federal Economic Development Administration to receive the funding needed for their broadband implementation.

What Custer County said

Feedback on the Custer County Broadband Impact and Market Assessment Report: “SNG provided an economic feasibility assessment of broadband that was straightforward and sensible! It clearly presents the benefits of broadband investments so that a community has the data points to guide and justify their decisions.”

Experience of working with SNG: “We have some very specific needs in Custer County, so we needed a firm that could understand this and adapt to our needs. SNG was able to assess our broadband needs and quantify the economic impacts from broadband investments which they presented in a way that we could both understand and use for funding. They not only took the time to understand where we want to be, but have the know-how to help us get there.”

Putting the Market Assessment Report to work: “I’ve provided a copy of the final report to the consultant we’ve hired to help develop our ED master plan. It will certainly be a major component of our long-term goals. Working with SNG was not only enjoyable, but educational.”

Outcomes from working with SNG: “In the months and years ahead know that your expertise and hard work helped assure that our Custer County Broadband Infrastructure Expansion (six towers) Project received the necessary funding, was constructed and the six publicly-funded towers expanded our broadband coverage footprint to nearly 80% of county addresses. You did good.”